June 6, 2018
JML Law

With the Californian marijuana market expected to hit over five billion dollars, there is obviously a growing demand for the drug. California is known all across the world for its cannabis use, and why this image is present can only be understood by an analysis of law and statistics.

What the statistics say:

While there is no official research done on California as a whole there are federal surveys that outline behaviour in the United States around the use of this drug.

  1. Marijuana was the most commonly used illicit drug in the US.
  2. In the 12-and-older age group, there were 22.2 million current marijuana users, that totals approximately 8.3 percent of the US population within this age range.
  3. There were 1.8 million current adolescent (ages 12-17) marijuana users (7 percent of this segment of the population).
  4. Approximately one in every five adults in the 18-25 age group was estimated to be a current marijuana user (about 19.8 percent of this population).
  5. An estimated 6.5 percent of Americans in the 26-and-older age group were current marijuana users.

There are however some statistics available about marijuana sales and arrests with in California:

  1. approximately 3 million California residents abused an illegal drug.
  2. In 2011, California paid $30 million in imprisonment costs for marijuana-related arrests. California ranks number one in medical marijuana sales in the United States; this market draws an estimated $1.3 billion in sales.
  3. Under 2012 and prior cannabis laws, there were average seizures of 413,000 pounds of marijuana.
  4. Of all the Californians who needed treatment for substance abuse, about 85 percent did not receive it.

What the law says:

The law allows for residents to possess and use up to an ounce of marijuana unless it is for medical reasons. Adults over 21 can also grow up to a maximum of six marijuana plants for personal use of them. It is still however illegal to smoke marijuana in public places or while driving.

The dangers of smoking marijuana and driving under the influence:

A smoker and user of marijuana may face certain symptoms after smoking the drug. These include:

  1. Delayed reaction
  2. Difficulty recognizing dangers and hazards in the road
  3. Lack of physical coordination and muscle control
  4. Aggressive driving
  5. Reckless behaviors
  6. Irresponsible choices behind the wheel.

Whilst all these behaviour affects your driving it is important to remember that it is not only you who suffers on the road but also the passengers in your car and other vehicles.

Contact a Los Angeles accident lawyer:

If you believe that you have been involved in an accident that involved drugs of any sort, or that the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol it is imperative that you take action by contacting an accident lawyer today. Top rated personal injury lawyers will fight for your rights and get you the compensation you deserve. Contact our law offices for assistance by an experienced accident lawyer today on 818-610-8800.

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